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Fake shooter threat triggers SWAT response

The FBI is helping the Littleton, Colorado police department track down the "prankster" who triggered a massive SWAT response to an office building. The target of the "swatting prank" was popular online gamer Kootra, who was broadcasting live.
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The person used a practice known as "swatting" when he called 911 at around 11:30 a.m. claiming to have killed co-workers inside a Littleton building. He also claimed to have set bombs inside.

In reality, Littleton Police now believe the caller was trying to set up a popular online gamer known as "Kootra," who was broadcasting live on the website twitch.tv. Video obtained by KUSA-TV shows Kootra inside an office when Littleton Police officers came into the room well-armed.

Kootra and a co-worker were briefly detained as police tried to figure everything out.

The massive SWAT and police response triggered school lockdowns in the area. Precautions that were lifted once police realized there wasn't a threat.

Littleton Police Chief Doug Stephens said they had to show up with a massive response.

"The caller stated he had shot multiple people," he said.

In the end, Stephens added, it didn't take his officers too long to realize something else was afoot.

"We did not find any indication that a shooting had occurred. We have no victims of any gunshots; no crime scene that we've been able to identify," he said.

"There was a lot of commotion," said Rich Kindler, who works nearby. "We really didn't know what was going on."

Swatting is illegal and can subject the caller to federal prosecution.

"Fortunately there were no injuries today, but a massive law enforcement response wastes resources and greatly increases the chances of innocent people being injured or killed. If the investigation determines that today's incident was a hoax, those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said a statement released by the city of Littleton after the incident.